Ben & Jerry’s, the iconic mission-driven ice cream brand, has hit a rocky patch. Co-founder Jerry Greenfield’s public exit after 47 years has raised big questions about what happens when a brand’s activist soul meets corporate strategy. Aaron, Melissa, and Qadira dig into how Unilever can protect Ben & Jerry’s social mission, rebuild trust with customers, and chart a bold path forward without its founding duo steering the ship.From how to handle vocal founders on the outside to doubling down on values inside, this episode is a masterclass in managing founder-brand tension and preserving legacy in the corporate era.🧠 What We Cover: The roots of Ben & Jerry’s mission-driven identity Why founder departures can shake a brand’s core How Unilever can re-anchor Ben & Jerry’s in its values Balancing global business strategy with social activism Governance, communications, and culture as tools for the fix Turning public tension into brand opportunity 🧰 Key Fixes Discussed: Double down on the mission: Recommit publicly to the values that made the brand unique. Operationalize the values: Embed activism into business strategy, not just storytelling. Create a new “guardian of the brand soul”: A face or team dedicated to carrying the mission forward. Leverage Unilever’s scale: Use Ben & Jerry’s as a flagship for cause-driven campaigns across all brands. Anticipate founder pushback: Build a strong comms plan to stay steady in public discourse. Codify the culture: Make the mission bigger than any one founder. Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com• Follow us on:Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wefixeditpodLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpodYouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@WeFixedItPodIf you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends! Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fixing Ben & Jerry's After the Meltdown

Spotify

Ben & Jerry’s, the iconic mission-driven ice cream brand, has hit a rocky patch. Co-founder Jerry Greenfield’s public exit after 47 years has raised big questions about what happens when a brand’s activist soul meets corporate strategy. Aaron, Melissa, and Qadira dig into how Unilever can protect Ben & Jerry’s social mission, rebuild trust with customers, and chart a bold path forward without its founding duo steering the ship.From how to handle vocal founders on the outside to doubling down on values inside, this episode is a masterclass in managing founder-brand tension and preserving legacy in the corporate era.🧠 What We Cover: The roots of Ben & Jerry’s mission-driven identity Why founder departures can shake a brand’s core How Unilever can re-anchor Ben & Jerry’s in its values Balancing global business strategy with social activism Governance, communications, and culture as tools for the fix Turning public tension into brand opportunity 🧰 Key Fixes Discussed:  Double down on the mission: Recommit publicly to the values that made the brand unique.  Operationalize the values: Embed activism into business strategy, not just storytelling.  Create a new “guardian of the brand soul”: A face or team dedicated to carrying the mission forward.  Leverage Unilever’s scale: Use Ben & Jerry’s as a flagship for cause-driven campaigns across all brands.  Anticipate founder pushback: Build a strong comms plan to stay steady in public discourse.  Codify the culture: Make the mission bigger than any one founder. Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com• Follow us on:Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wefixeditpodLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpodYouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@WeFixedItPodIf you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends! Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Armchair quarterbacking isn’t just for sports anymore. We’re taking the same approach to companies: what would you do in their shoes? Each episode, our lively panel will debate a new issue ripped from the headlines involving a different well-known company. Between our instincts, experiences, and unsolicited opinions, we may just come up with gold. At the end, we’ll critique ourselves and see how we did. If we fixed it, you’re welcome! Season 3 launched January 20, 2026. Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode!

We Fixed It, You're Welcome

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